Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-01
chamber to witness the installation Of the

chamber to witness the installation of the
ma}ur.
Tho two boards being in joint session,
Messrs. Bryant and Snowden were appoint
ed committee to escort the mayor into
the chamber, which they did, and presented
him to the Council as the sHon. J. B.
Smoot, mayor and mayor elect Of the city
of Alexandria"
Before taking the oath of Office, and after
the applause which had been started at his
entrance had subsidized, Mr., Smoot said:
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen
and Common Council should not feel
that l was acting in strict justice if failed
to return thanks to you and the people you
represent for this second exhibition Of the
trust reposed in me by rejecting me for
another two years to the mayoralty of your
city. 1t is gratifying to me to know that
the affairs of the city have been conducted
in such manner as TO warrant you in
again calling upon me 10 be your executive.
During the past two years the condition OF
the city physically has improved amazing.
ly; new buildings have been erected and
numbers of others are in course of construc-
ton. The improvement, in my judgment,
has been greater during the time mentioned
than in any corresponding period during
NY lGSOllSCliOlI, tAutA Suouiu INV uhtii WV
DIST day of this month l will have been a
citizen of Alexandria fifty.sevenf years.
You, gentlemen, have been elected to serve
in the City Council, some for two and some
for four years. Upon your induction to Of
fee You find the financial affairs of the city
in q good condition. About ten or
fifteen years ago the corporation
passed through q trying crisis in its
history, but things are now in the best
shape. The Commissioners of the Sinking
Fund have, during the past two years, re-
tired SIG 900 of bonds, and the debt has
further been reduced S13. l22. making to-
tai decrease in the public debt of S29, 1872.
hope the present Council may SO manage
affairs that equally as good an exhibit may
be made at the termination of your terms OF
Office. During my incnmbency Of the
MAYORS Office | have on several occasions
sent to Council communications On various
subjects, some of which have been needed
and some ignored. sm particularly anx-
ious that the one relating to changes IN the
Mayors Office may be favorably considered
by YOU, as we'll as another regarding the
codification of the Corporation laws. The
laws of the city were codifed last in 1871,
since which time various amendments and
new laws have been enacted, the latter be.
ing for the most part printed on leaflets and
not always available. l again
thank YOU, gentlemen, for this second indi-
cation of your esteem, and am now ready to
take the required oath Of Office"
Justice May then advanced and admins
tered the oath Of Office, after which the
Joint convention dissolved.
Upon the resssembling of the Council Mr..
Snowden introduced resolution directing
the Mayor to transfer 1,22O shares OF the
Alexandria Canal Stock to the U. 5. gov
eminent, which resolution was adopted
The chairman then announced that in
order that the house numbering might be
proceeded with as soon as possible the joint
| Committee on Streets will be announced in
o few days and the members notified.
| Council then adjourned.